Proportional spacing mechanism control for typewriters



May 4, 1965 H. ELSNER ETAL PROPORTIONAL SPACING MECHANISM CONTROL FOR TYPEWRITERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 10, 1965 EEG mgmwn IN VE N TOR 5 "Vi n: Elmer y. Waner Behr- 1:11:01 9. Sinker;

ATTORNEY May 4, 1965 H. ELSNER ETAL PROPORTIONAL SPACING MECHANISM CONTROL FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Jan. 10, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VE N TOR S 1 111": Eisner ll elber' 89hr mmhael S. Strik ATTORNEY May 4, 1965 H. ELSNER ETAL PROPORTIONAL SPACING MECHANISM CONTROL FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Jan. 10, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS BY: wazze Behr Michael S, sinnker;

ATTORNEY United States Patent 0 8,486 19 Claims. (Cl. 197-84) The present invention concerns a proportional spacing mechanism control arrangement for typewriters which have a plurality n of selectable and electromagnetically operable stop means for stopping after each key operation the typewriter carriage in a position spaced from the preceding position by a variable multiple i of a predetermined fraction a/rz of the standard carriage step a in proportion to the type width of the character printed upon such a key actuation. The standard carriage step a has a length determined by the standard spacing of the teeth of the rack bar of the escapement mechanism of a standard typewriter. conventionally, the stop means mentioned above comprise a plurality of mechanical stops which are arranged to engage when in stopping position, any one of the teeth of a toothed bar .arranged along the typewriter carriage, the latter being urged by a spring or the like in a direction so chosen that the above mentioned teeth tend to abut against any one of the mechanical stops that is in stopping position. It is possible to arrange matters so that at any time only one selected stop is in stopping position. However, it is preferred to use a plurality of mechanical stops which are normally all in stopping position and to withdraw electromagnetically those stops of the series thereof which are not needed or desired for stopping the typewriter carriage so that a tooth of the toothed bar of the carriage will abut against the first one of the remaining not withdrawn mechanical stops.

Several types of proportional spacing mechanism con trols have been proposed in the past. However, these controls have been found not to be satisfactory for various reasons. For instance, a finely divided toothed control wheel was needed, the spacing of the teeth corresponding to the above-mentioned fractional step unit, but such a control wheel had to be comparatively large in order to give the individual teeth sufiicient mechanical strength. Then a large ratio gear transmission gear was required to transmit the rotary steps of the control wheel to the control of the mechanical stops. Also, a comparatively complicated and delicate pawl mechanism was required in such an arrangement. Other llinown controls require coupling and decoupling mechanisms and other components which together entail an undesirable inertia thereof whereby the operation of the typewriter is slowed 7 down.

It istherefore one object of the invention to provide for a proportional spacing mechanism control arrangement which is simpler in construction and operates more reliably and more promptly than the known control arrangements.

It is another object of this invention to provide for an arrangement of the type set forth in which the selection and operation of the stop means is effected electrically in direct response to the actuation of the individual typewriter keys. With the above objects in view one embodiment of the invention relates to typewriters having a plurality n of selectable and electromagnetically operable stop rneans for stopping after a key operation the typewriter carriage in a position spaced from the preceding position by a variable multiple 1' of a predetermined fraction a/n of the standard carriage step a in proportion Patented May 4, 1965 to the type width of the character printed upon such key actuation, and furnishing with each individual key actuation an electrical stop actuating pulse for operating, and preferably withdrawing respectively selected stop means, a plurality of input means for receiving said stop actuating pulses and respectively associated with different multiples of the fraction a/ n of the standard carriage step; multipole distributor switch means cyclically movable in synchronism with the carriage movement through a plurality of positions respectively corresponding in sequence to sequential positions of said carriage which are spaced from each other by the fraction 0/21 and which said carriage may assume in making a step after a key actuation, and transmitting in each of its positions a stop actuating pulse received from said input means to the stop means selectively in such a manner that the carriage is stopped depending on the actuation of said stop means after a particular key actuation in a position spaced from its preceding position a distance depending upon the width of the particular character printed upon said particular key actuation; and means for moving said distributor switch means through said sequential positions in synchronism with the carriage movement.

It will be seen that the arrangement according to the invention operates purely electrically whereby the effect of the inertia of mechanical components is practically eliminated since stop actuating pulses initiated by a key operation are directly and selectively transmitted to the stop actuating electromagnets. After the completion of a type printing operation the carriage is immediately released for carrying out a step of the required magnitude whereby time is saved and the permissible typing speed is correspondingly increased.

Assuming that the stop means comprise a plurality of mechanical stops of which at the given moment a required number is electromagnetically withdrawn from the stopping position, the energized stop withdrawing electromagnets must be kept in energized condition until the involved tooth of the above mentioned toothed bar of the carriage has abutted against the first one of the not withdrawn mechanical stops. Since the time required for this movement is very brief it is entirely sufficient to provide for this purpose conventional electric means delaying the return of the energized electromagnet to deenergized condition, as for instance circuit means comprising capacitors, chokes, resistors and/or transistors, particularly low pass filters, oscillator circuits or monostable multivibrators with or without time control.

Under these circumstances it is not necessary to provide for means whereby a return signal is produced when the carriage has carried out the required step so that the control arrangement is returned by such a return signal to its normal position ready for the next operation. In this manner again time delays occuring in known ararngements are avoided.

For obvious reasons in an arrangement as just described the number of withdrawable stops must be so chosen that there is one more stop than are required for stopping the carriage in a position spaced from the preceding position by a multiple of the predetermined fraction ranging up to so that even when all the stops corresponding to steps up to the just mentioned maximum are withdrawn, still one stop would normally remain in stopping position.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1, actually composed of FIGS. la and lb with common connecting points a, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, is a schematic circuit diagram of a control arrangement according V ploded view of the components of the distributor switch according to FIGS. 2 and 5;

. FIG. .5 is a plan view in direction of the arrow A in FIG. 3 of the movable member 23 in assembled position on the stationary member 21 of the distributor switch;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, fractional elevation at a large scale of a portion of the stop mechanism of the typewriter; and 7 FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic three-dimensional view of the electromagnet means controlling the mechanical stops.

Referring now to FIG. 1, and more specifically to FIG. la, the typewriter keys are symbolically illustrated by buttons 10, only a small selection of these keys being shown as being assigned to the characters 1, Q, A, 2, Y,

W, R, F, 5, J, M, 8 and I, respectively. Additionally, at the righthand end'of FIG. la two space keys S and Sp serve to causethe typewriter carriage to' carry out a step movement in the magnitude of three or four'step units a/n. Each of the keys 10 actuates two switches 10' and 10" which are normally in the illustrated open position. Each switch 10 connects whenin closed position the negative pole of a source of electric energy via bus bar 11 with the pertaining one of a plurality of type lever actuating or selecting electromagnets 32 the other end whereof is connected to a bus bar 16 leading to the positive terminal of the source of energy as will be described further below. The second switch 10" of the pair thereof connects, when in closed position, simultaneously with the other switch 10 or .with a slight delay thereafter, the positive potentialof a bus bar 12 via a diode 13 with another bus bar 14 from which this 'positive potential is'applied to the emitter of a transistor 15 the collector of which is connected with the above men I tioned bus bar 16. Hereby the transistor 15 is rendered conductive so that now the positive potential of the base of the transistor 15 is applied to the particular electro magnet 32 associated with the actuated typewriter key 10. When any one of the selecting electromagnets 32' is energized a coupling member of the intermediate lever of the type lever action (not shown) .is moved thereby in a known manner into the path of a rocking member common to all of the type lever actions of the typewriter.

This rocking member is then moved to drive the selected type lever action by the energization 'of the multiple electromagnet 33shown in FIG; 1b as, composed of. four electromagnet portions connected in parallel for'being energized by another transistor 35'which is rendered conductive via a delay device 34 when the transistor 15 is The above-mentioned rocking;

rendered conductive.

4 magnets of the group 31 451 which have to be energized in the particular case. As illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 6 and 7 the energization of these electromagnets 31 -31 results in the withdrawal of the respectively associated mechanical stop members -45 from the path of the teeth of the toothed carriage bar 43. It should be noted that in FIGS. 6 and 7 as in other illustrations the indices of the reference numerals as for instance 31 and 45 indicate the association of the particular element with the corresponding carriage step in terms of corresponding multiples of the fractional step unit a/n. As can be seen from FIG. la a selected number of the above mentioned diodes .13." is connected respectively with associated change-over switches 17 which may be moved-jointly from the illustrated normal position to their second position when the standard shift control of the typewriter is operated as indicated by the arrow at for shifting from lower case character printing to upper case character printing; In the illustrated position the changeover switch 17 would transmit the pulse received from the associated diode 13" to the first input terminal of the respectively associated double-pole selector switch 18. The selector switches 18 are jointly moved from the illustrated normal position by actuation of a spacing control member in the direction of the arrow x into second or third position which correspond to possibly desired additional spacing between printed characters so that upon actuation of the spacing control the step of the carriage after the printing of a character would be increased by one or more fractional step units a/n beyond the step required for moving the carriage an amount substantially'e'qual to the actual width of the character printed. In any one position of the selector switches 18 the stop actuating pulse receivedfrom a particular switch 17 is transmited by one or the other of the movable arms of the pertaining selector switch 18 to a predetermined one of the plurality of bus bars 19. Each of these bus bars'19 is assigned, to a correspondingly different one of the multiples of the fractional step unit a/n; for

instance bus bar 19 is associated'with a'step of the magnitude 2a/n while the bus bar 197'iS assigned to a step ofthe magnitude 'Za/n. This applies to the present example in which it is. assumed and referred to in all the illustrations FIGS. l7 that the standard typewriter carriage step a' corresponidng to the spacing between the consecutive tooth shoulders of the toothed carriage bar 43 is subdivided into eight fractional step units sothat n is in this case equal to 8. ing pulses applied to the bus bars 19 -19 will actuate the stop actuating electromagnets in such' a manner that the step of the carriage after printing a character can be varied between a magnitude equalto tw'o fractional step units and the magnitude of seven fractional step units. Accordingly, the leads taken from the bus bars 19 to 19 shown in FIG. 1a and constituting the input means to the distributor switchrneans shown in FIG. 1b are marked with the numerals 2-7, respectively, eachlead w designation corresponding to the multiple of the fractional step unit ,to which-the particular leadis assigned. As can be seen from FIG. 1a, as long as, the selector switches 18 for interspaced typing are in lthe illustrated member is indicated symbolically at 36. When this rocking member 36 is moved as mentioned above it closes a contact 39 described furtherbelow. t p

When the above-mentioned second switch 10" is moved actuating pulse from the bus bar l2'via a second; diode means,,namely to those ofthe stop actuating electroto closed position a positive pulse is applied as a stop normal positionand as. long as the changeover switches 17 arei n the illustrated normal position assignedto lower case,.pr1nting position, thestop actuating pulses received from the respective diodes 13 will be taken in relation to the individual keys" 10 to that oneof the .bus bars character to'be produced by actuating the particular key 10, .Thus, e.g. the pulse from 1tl 1e'key-switch 10' assigned to thelatter w will reach the bus bar 19; while the pulse-from-the key switch assignedto j will reachthe.

bus bar;.19 and the 'pnlsejfromithe keyl switch. assigned "to the letteri will reach the bus'bar 19 etc. On the other hand: as soon as by actuation of'the shift control Consequently, stop actuatthe change-over switches 17 are moved to their second position corresponding to upper case printing the above mentioned stop actuating pulses from the respective key switches will be taken to bus bars having the designation 19 with a higher index corresponding to the greater width of the respective upper case or capital letter. Finally, if the interspacing is desired the actuation of the spacing control will shift the movable contact member of the selector switches 18 into their second or third position whereby the respective pulses are taken to bus bars assigned to carriage steps which exceed the magnitude of the normal step associated with a particular letter by one or more of the above-mentioned fractional unit steps.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 111, it is to be borne in mind that the stop actuating pulses intended to produce carriage steps of a magnitude varying between two and seven fractional unit steps are received from the above described input means at the points 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, at the lefthand upper corner of FIG. lb. From these points input lines are taken to a corresponding number of input terminals of a multipole distributor switch 20 illustrated in FIG. 1b only diagrammatically in a simplified version thereof, but explained in greater detail further below in reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. In FIG. 1b particular input terminals are not shown but they may be considered as being constituted by a series of sliding contacts 21 to 21' angularly spaced from each other at equal intervals along a circular arc. Each of the contacts 21' to" 21} is respectively connected with the respectively adjacent or consecutive one in said series thereof via diodes 22 so that a stop actuating pulse applied from any one of the input points 2-7 is taken not only to the input terminal or sliding contact 21' having the same index as the particular input point but also to those input terminals or sliding contacts 21 which have a lower index. For instance a pulse from the input point 2 is applied simultaneously to the sliding contacts 21 and 21 or a stop actuating pulse from the input point 6 is taken not only to the sliding contact 21 but also to the sliding contacts 21' 21' 21 21 and 2l' However, due to the presence of the diode 22 the pulses received from the individual input points 2-7 cannot reach sliding contacts 21' identified with a respectively higher index.

It is to be noted that the sliding contact 21' is purposely not connected with any one of the inputs but is only provided because in the example described the standard carriage step a is divided into eight fractional unit steps. Eight switch contacts 23/ to 23' are arranged also angularly spaced at even intervals along a circular are so as to be able to cooperate with or to engage the sliding contacts 21 to 21' respectively, in each of the various positions which a rotary portion of the distributor switch 20 carrying the switch contacts 23' 23' may assume during rotation in the direction of the arrow z. It is to be understood that, as will be described further below in reference to FIGS. 2-5 the dilferent positions of the distributor switch 2%) are angularly spaced from each other in proportion to carriage steps of the magnitude of the predetermined fraction a/n of the standard carriage step a.

The rotary member of the distributor switch 2t) carrying the switch contacts 23'; to 23' carries also a corresponding number of eight slip rings 26 to 26 each being connected by a corresponding line 27 with the switch contacts 23 to 23' respectively, carrying the corresponding index. For each of the slip rings 26 to 26 a sliding contact 21" to 21, respectively, is provided from which connections are taken to the electrical circuits respectively associated with and controlling the electromagnets 31 to 31 respectively, as illustrated in the right hand portion of FIG. lb. Transistors 3% to 30 respectively, are connected between the justmentioned electrornagnets and the corresponding sliding 6 contacts 21" to 21" respectively. The remote terminal of each of the electromagnets 31 to 31 is connected to a common lead taken to the negative terminal of the above mentioned source of electric energy.

It is evident from FIG. 1b that with consecutive rotary steps of the rotatable member of the distributor switch 20 i.e. corresponding angular steps of the switch contacts 23 to 23' the existing paths for stop actuating pulses arriving from the input means at the connection points 2-7, respectively, to the electromagnets 31 to 31 respectively, are cyclically changed. For instance, in the position of the distributor switch 20 illustrated in FIG. 1b a pulse from the input point 2 will find a path through input terminals 21' and 21 switch contacts 23' and 23' slip rings 26 and 26 and sliding contacts 21" and 21" to the transistors 30 and 30 and electromagnets 31 and 31 The above-mentioned mechanical stops of the stop means would be set thereby in such a manner that the typewriter carriage can carry out a forward step of a magnitude equal to two of the abovementioned fractional unit steps. Hereby the movable portion of the distributor switch 20 would be moved two angular steps forward so that now the switch contact 23 would be in engagement with the sliding contact 21' and the other switch contacts 23'.; to 23' correspondingly with the other sliding contacts 21 to 21' Switch contact 23' would now engage the sliding contact 21' and the switch contacts 23' would now engage the sliding contact 21' Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the mechanical stops 45 to 45;, are arranged in staggered positions in the path of the toothed bar 43 of the typewriter carriage which in a well known manner is continuously urged in the direction of the arrow so that at a given moment the shoulder of one of the teeth of the bar 43 tends to abut against one of the tips of the stops 45 to 45 which is urged by the corresponding spring 48 into stopping position as shown particularly for the stop 45;, while other ones of the stops may be withdrawn from stopping position as shown in FIG. 6. The above-mentioned electromagnets 31 to 31 may be arranged to act directly on the corresponding stops 45 to 45 so as to withdraw the particular stop when the particular electromagnet is energized. In a preferred form of stop means which do not constitute a part of this invention and is illustrated by FIG. 7, the individual electromagnets 31 -31 move when energized a selector bar 4-6 to 46 respectively associated with the stops 45 to 45 into a longitudinally shifted position in which an armature 47 of the stop withdrawing electromagnet 37 deflects the longitudinally shifted selector bar or bars downwardly so that the respectively associated stop 45 to 45 is thereby withdrawn from its stopping position.

The electromagnet 37 is shown in FIG. 1b and is energizable by a transistor 38 the base of which is connected via a resistor R to a source of positive potential. For rendering the transistor 38 conductive a positive pulse of higher potential may be applied to its emitter for instance by the closing of a switch 3% which, as mentioned above, will be closed by the movement of the rocking member 36 as soon as the electromagnets 33 of the type lever actuating arrangment are energized.

In order to cause the stop Withdrawing electromagnet 37 to hold the withdrawn stops 45 in the withdrawn position through a period of time sufiicient to permit the carriage to move forward until the respective shoulder of the tooth of the tooth bar 43 reaches the first one of the not withdrawn stops 45 means are provided for delaying the return of the electromagnet 37 from energized to de-energized condition, for instance a capacitor connected in parallel with the electromagnet 37. However, other delay means may be used in the same manner and to the same effect.

If, however, the arrangement according to FIG. 7 is not used but the electromagnets 31 to 31 are utilized 7 for directly withdrawing the respectively associatedrnechanical stops 45 -45 then for the reasons stated above delay means must be provided in relation to each individual one of the electromagnets 31 to 31 e.g. capacitors 48 connected in parallel with the respective electromagnet, as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1b.

When the typewriter carriage, for instance after the completion of a typed line, returns or is returned to starting position for starting a new line the slanting portions of the teeth of the toothed bar 43 would slide over the tips of the stops 45 to 45 resiliently held in stopping position and would have to push them back into nonstopping position. In order toavoid the resulting wear and noise it is desirable to provide control means for having all the mechanical stops 45 to 45 withdrawn from stopping position during such return run of the carriage. For this purpose, in the arrangement according to FIG. 1b a double-pole switch 41 is provided one arm 41' of which is connected between a source of positive potential and the emitters of all the transistors 30 to 3% across a re-' switch arm'41 reaches its circuit closing position slightly 7 later than the switch arm 41'. Of course, ifv as stated above the electromagnets' 31 to 31 directly move the stops 45 into withdrawn position and therefore the electromagnet 37 and transistor 38 is not provided, then the switch 41 does not have to include the second switch arm 41".

v The switch 41 may be arranged to be actuated when ever the carriage return key of the typewriter is actuated. If the typewriter is also equipped with means for tabulating then the switch 41 may also be actuated by the tabu lator key which causes a return run of the carriage' In either case, actuation of the switch 41 as described will cause all the electromagnets 31 to 31 and, if. present,

37 to be energized whereby during the return movement of the carriage "all the stops 45 to 45 are withdrawn.

from their stopping position.

There is still another way of providing for the stops 45 to be moved out of the way of the teeth of the toothed bar 43 during a return run of the carriage. In such an alternative arrangement the diodes 49 are not needed and the switch contact 41 would be connected directly to the input terminal or sliding contact 21'3 which in this case would have'to be connected like the other sliding.

.in FIG. 2 in reference to the sliding contact 21";, which is,

to be connected to the transistor 30 A shaftv 25 is rotatably supported at the center of the member. 21 and is held at its opposite end by a bearing plate 24' assembled with the member 21 as illustrated by FIG. 2. The shaft 25 carries" the rotatable portion 23 which is'provide'd at its surface facing the interior of the member 21 with eight slip rings 261' to 26 which are insulated from each other. Since the slip rings 26 to 26 have to cooperate with the above mentioned sliding contacts 21" to 21" respectively,.the individual slip rings are so arranged relative to the center of the member 23 that the individual sliding contacts 21" to 21" will slide along the respectively associated slip rings. Along the circumference of the face of the rotatable member 23 switch con-t acts 23 to 23' are arranged in such a manner that they can be engaged in the various positions of the member 23 by the above mentioned sliding contacts 21 TO 21 3. 7

For rotating the rotatable member 23 of the switch 20 a gear 24 is also attached to the shaft 25 as illustrated. The distributor switch .20 is to be, mount-ed within the typewriter in such a manner that the gear 24 meshes with the conventional toothed bar or rack carried by the typewriter carriage so that every movement of the carriage 'is transmitted by the gear 24 to the rotatable member 23 small, and since,.on the other hand, the various sliding 1 contacts must be constructed with sufficient strength and therefore require space and also a sufii'cient spacing be-' tween each other, the diameter of the rotatable member 23 must be chosen comparatively large. If this is done the further advantage is obtained that the transmission ratio between the above-mentioned rack and the gear 24 can be chosen comparatively small so that teeth of the gear 24 can be comparatively strong. For these reasons the rotatable member 23 of the switch 20 is provided, difierent from the showing in FIG. 1b, with a plurality of groups (seven groups in the illustrated example) of switch contacts 23 to 23' each group of these switch contacts being connected by leads 27 with the slip rings 26 'to 26 respectively associated with the switch contacts of that 1' group, as can be 'seen from FIG. 5. Each group of the switch con-tacts23' to 23' operates independently of the other groups in the same manner as has been described contacts across a diode 22 with the sliding contact 21 t Consequently, current flowing'through switch '41"when. v

in closed position would find a path through all the slid ing contacts 21' to 21 to all of the'slip rings 26 to 26 from there to all of the transistors 30 to 305 and thus to all of the electromagnets 31 to 31 so that again .all, the

stops 45 would be withdrawn.

Referring nowto FIGS. 25 a cal construction of the multipole distributor switch 201is given;

description of a practi- In FIGS. 25' the same numerals are applied to the electrical components which have been used .inFIG. 1b for the diagrammatic illustration of the switch'20r f The distributor switch 20 as illustratedcomprises mainly a stationary portion 21 carrying onits'inside the slidingv contacts 21' to 21','; arranged around a circular farc, each being connected to an outside projecting terminal 21'a to 21a The sliding contact 21' is not shown in FIG. 4. The stationary portion 21'further carries on its inside the sliding'contacts 211/1 to 21",; at respectively different The operation of the arrangement accordingto the invention as described above is as follows; it may be assumed that the typewriter'carriage and correspondingly the rotatablemember 23 of the distributor switch 20 is in the position illustrated by FIG. 1b. Consequently, the sliding contact 21' is connected in the above-described manneriwith the electromagnet 31 the respectively asso-- ciated stop 45 being in stopping. position so that the shoulder of one of the teeth of the. toothed bar 43 abuts against this stop 45 It may be assumed that now for instant-Lethe letter r' is typed by actuation of the correspending key 10 whereby a stop actuating pulse is applied to the bus bar 19 and from there via connection point 3 to the input terminal and sliding contact 21' via diodes 22 this pulse is' also transmitted to the sliding contact 21 and 21 Consequently; in this position 'of' the switch 20 this stop actuating pulse is transmitted to the electromagnet 31 to 31 'whereby the'stops 45 to 45 are withdrawri 'and the'above-mentioned shoulder of the 7 respective tooth 'ofjthe' bar 43 isj-free to move forward so that thecariiage makes a step equal to three fractional 755.

unit steps corresponding to the width 'of the letter r.

This movement of the carriage is transmitted via gear 24 to the rotatable member 23 of the switch 20 so that this member carries, out a movement in the direction of the arrow z comprising three angular unit steps each corresponding to one of the fractional units steps of the carriage. The shoulder of the above-mentioned toothed bar 43 now abuts against the stop 45 Now the switch contact 23 which at the outset was in the engagement with the sliding contact 21'; is now in position opposite the sliding contact 21}. At the moment the situation is practically the same as at the outset since that stop, namely stop 45 which determines the existing position of the carriage has its electromagnet, namely 311 connected with the first of the sliding contacts, namely contact 21,. The difference is only that the next movement of the carriage will not start from a position in which the shoulder of the above mentioned tooth of bar 43 abuts against stop 45 but from a position in which this shoulder abuts against tooth 45;. Assuming now that the next character to be typed is the letter f so that the stop actuating pulse is applied to the bus bar 1 9 and from there via connection point 2 to the input terminal or sliding contact 215, then the stop actuating pulse will find a path via sliding contact 21' and 2'1' switch contacts 23 and- 23' slip rings 26 and 26 to the electromagnets 31 and 31,; whereby the stops 45 and 45 are withdrawn so that again the carriage can make a step in the magnitude of two fractional unit steps until the shoulder of the tooth abuts against the stop 45 which is still in stopping position as illustrated in FIG. 6. Again the relation between the sliding contacts 21- to 21 and the switch contacts 23 to 23' is cyclically changed so that now the electromagnet 31 will be connected with the sliding contact 21',.

If the, next letter typed is w so that a stop actuating pulse is applied to the bus bar 19 and from there v-i-a connection point 4 to the input terminal or sliding contact 217 the result will be that now the stops 45 45 45 and 45 will be withdrawn because the respectively associated electromagnets 3-1 31 31 and 3 1 are now connected in the above described manner with the sliding contacts 21' 2Y 21' and 21' respectively, and at the end of the now executed carriage movement the shoulder of the next following tooth of the bar 43 will abut against the stop 45;.

As has been stated above and as can be seen from FIG. lb the sliding contact 21' is not connected with any onev of the input lines so that no stop actuating pulse can ever be applied to this sliding contact 21 Consequently, that one ofthe electromagnets 31 to 31 which in any position of the distributor switch 20' is connected with the sliding contact 21' (or if there is no such contact as indicated by FIG. 4) will always remain unenergized no matter to which input terminal a stop actuating pulse is applied at such position of the switch 20. Consequently the stop 45 associated with such particular electromagnet 31 remains in stopping position and will stop the carriage. Consequently, the greatest step which the carriage can carry out unde rthe control of this arrangement will correspond to seven fractional step units, or more generally, to a multiple thereof as defined by the fraction in other words one fractional step unit less than what the spacing of the teeth of the bar 43 would permit or one step less than would correspond to the number of stops 45.

It can be seen from the above that the arrangement according to the invention and particularly the multipole distributor switch makes it possible to control a proportional spacing mechanism of a typewriter in an extremely simple manner and without any undesirable or avoidable delays so that typing with proportional spacing and even with interspacing can be carried out at great speed.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of a proportional spacing mechanism control arrangement for typewriters differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a proportional spacing mechanism control arrangement for typewriters including a multipole distributor switch, it is not intended to be limited'to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

\Vithout further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A proportional spacing mechanism control'arrangemerit for typewriters having a plurality n of selectable and electromagnetically operable stop means for stopping after a key operation the typewriter carriage in a position,

spaced from the preceding position by a variable multiple of a predetermined fraction a/n of the standard carriage stepa in proportion to the type width of the character printed upon such key actuation, and furnishing with each individual key actuation an electrical stop ac tuating. pulse for setting respectively selected stop means, comprising, in combination, a plurality of input means for receiving said stop actuating pulses and respectively associated with different multiples of said predetermined fraction (1/12 of the standard carriage step; multipole distributor switch means cyclically turna-ble in one direction in synchronism with the carriage movement through a plurality of positions respectively corresponding in sequence to sequential positions of said carriage which are spaced from each other by said fraction a/n and which said carriage may assume in making a step after a key actuation, said distributor switch means having a plurality of input terminals respectively connected with said plurality of input means in sequential order corresponding to said different multiples of said fraction (1/11 and a plurality of output terminals respectively connected to said electromagnetically operable stop means, and said distributor switch means providing in any one of said sequential positions thereof an individual path from any one of said input terminals via a selectable one of said output terminals to the respectively connected stop means, the individual path to a selected output terminal and to the stop means connected therewith being determined by the position which said distributor switch means occupies at a given moment, so that in any position of said distributor switch means a stop actuating pulse applied to a particular one of said input terminals associated with a particular multiple of said fraction a/n is transmitted to said stop means in such a manner that irrespective of the existing position of said carriage the latter will carry out, after the printing of the character corresponding to the key actuation producing the particular stop actuating pulse, a step in the magnitude of that multiple of said fraction a/n with which the input terminal is associated to which the particular stop actuating pulse has been applied; and means for turning said distributor switch means in one direction cyclically through said sequential positions in synchronism with the carriage movement.

2. A proportional spacing mechanism control arrangement for typewriters having stop means including a series of a number n of mechanical stops selectively and electromechanically withdrawable by corresponding stop electromagnets from operative carriage stopping position for 11 stopping, depending on the selected number of consecutive stops of said series withdrawn, after a key operation the typewriter carriage in a position spaced from the preceding position by a variable multiple of a predetermined fractiona/n of the standard carriage step a in proportion to the type widthof the character printed upon such key actuation, and furnishing. with each individual key actuation an electrical stop actuating pulse for withdrawing a respectively selected number of said stops, comprising, in combination, a plurality of input means for receiving said stop actuating pulses and respectively associated with different multiples of said predetermined fraction /11 of the standard carriage step; multipole distributor switch means cyclically turnable in one direction in synchronism with the carriage movement through a plurality of positions respectively corresponding in sequence to sequential positions of said carriage which are spaced from each other by said fraction a/ n and which said carriage may assume in making a step after a key actuation, said distributor switch means having a plurality of input terminals respectively connected with said'plurality of inputvmeans in sequential order corresponding to said different multiples of said fraction 4/11 and a plurality of output terminals respectively connected to said stop electromagnets, and said distributor switch means providing in any one of said sequential positions'thereo'f an individual path. from any one of said input terminals via selectable ones of said output terminals to the respectively connected stop electromagnets, the individual path to a selected output'terminal and to the stop electromagnet connected therewith being determined by the position which said distributor switch means occupies-at a given moment, so that in' any position of said distributor switch means a stop actuating pulse applied to a particular one of said input terminals associated with a particular multiple of said fraction a/n is transmitted to said electromagnet in such a manner that irrespective of the existing position of said carriage the latter will carry out, after the printing of the character corresponding to the key actuation producing 'the particular stop actuating pulse, a step in the magnitude of that multiple of said fraction'a/ n with which the input terminal is associated to which the particular stop actuating pulse has been applied; and'means for turning said distributor switch means in one direction cyclically through said sequential positions in synchronism withthe the preceding position by a variable multiple of; predetermined fraction a/n of the standard carriage step a in proportion to the type width of the character printed upon such key actuation, and furnishing with each' individual key actuation an electrical stop actuating pulse for withdrawing a respectively selected numberwof said stops, comprising, in combination, a plurality of input means for receiving said stop actuating pulses and respectively associated with different multiples of said predetermined fraction 'a/n of the standard'carriage' step;--

multipole distributor switch means having a stationary portion including a plurality of inputterminals angularly spaced along a circular arc and a portion relatively rotatable about the center of said are andiincluding a'plurality of switch contacts engageably cooperatingrwith said'i nput terminals, respectively," and a plurality of slip rings each said rotatable portion being cyclically movable in synchronism with the-carriage movement throughga plurality of positions respectively corresponding in, sequence to sequential positions of said carriage which are spaced from each other by said fraction a/n and which said carriage may assume in making a step after a key actuation, said distributor switch means having said plurality of input terminals respectively connected with said plurality of input means in sequential order corresponding to said different multiples ofsaid fraction a/ n; a plurality of sliding contacts respectively engaging said slip rings and a plurality of output terminals respectively connected to said sliding contacts, on one hand, and to said stop electromagnets, on the other hand, and said distributor switch means providing in any one of said sequential positions thereof an individual path from any one of said input terminals 'via selectable ones of said switch contacts, slip rings, sliding contacts and of said output terminals to the respectively connected stop electromagnet, the individual path to a selected output terminal and to the stop electromagnet connected therewith being determined by the position which said distributor switch means occupies at 'a given moment and thus by the engagement of the diiferent switch contacts with the different input terminals, respectively, so that in any position of said rotatable portion of said distributor switch means a stop actuating pulse applied to'a particular one of said input terminals associated with a particular multiple of said fraction a/n is transmitted to said stop electromagnets in such a manner that irrespective of the existing position of said carriage the latter will carry out, after the printing of the character corresponding to the key actuation' producing the particular stop actuating pulse, a

, step in the magnitude of that multiple of said fraction a/n with which the input terminal is associated to which the particular stop actuating pulse has been applied; and means formoving said distributor switch means in one direction cyclically through said sequential'positions in synchronism with the carriage movement.

' utive stops of said series withdrawn, after a key operation connected with a different'one of said switch'contacts, i

'said stop actuating pulses and respectively associated with different multiples of said predetermined fraction a/n of the standard carriage step; multipole distributor switch means having a stationary portion including a plurality of input'terminals angularly'spaced along a circular arc and a portion relatively rotatable about the center of said are and including a plurality of switch contacts engageably cooperating with said input terminals, respectively,

and a pluralityof slip rings each'connected with a different one of said switch contacts, said rotatable portion be- 7 ing cyclically movable ,in synchronism withthe carriage movement througha plurality' of positions, respectively 'a' steprafte'r a key actuation, said distributor switch means having said plurality of input terminals respectively con-r nected with said plurality of input means in sequential 7 order corresponding to said different multiples ofv said' fraction 11/ a' plurality of sliding contacts respectively n L engaging said slip rings and a plurality of output terminals 'respectively ,zconnected to, said, sliding'contacts, on one 13 hand, and to said stop electroinagnets, on the other hand, and said distributor switch means providing in any one of said sequential positions thereof an individual path from any one of said input terminals via selectable ones of said switch contacts, slip rings, sliding contacts and of said output terminals to the respectively connected stop electromagnet, the individual path to a selected output terminal and to the stop electromagnets connected therewith being determined by the position which said distributor switch means occupies at a given moment and thus by the engagement of the different switch contacts with the different input terminals, respectively, so that in any position of said rotatable portion of said distributor switch means a stop actuating pulse applied to a particular one of said input terminals associated with a particular multiple of said fraction a/n is transmitted to said stop electromagnets in such a manner that irrespective of the existing position of said carriage the latter will carry out, after the printing of the character corresponding to the key actuation producing the particular stop actuating pulse, a step in the magnitude of that multiple of sai fraction a/n with which the input terminal is associated to which the particular stop actuating pulse has been applied; means for moving said distributor switch means in one direction cyclically through said sequential positions in synchronism with the carriage movement; and circuit means connected between consecutive ones of said input terminals for applying one of said stop actuating pulses applied to one of said input terminals simultaneously also to all those input terminals only which are connected to input means associated with a smaller multiple of said fraction a/n than that input means from which the particular stop actuating pulse is being applied to said one of said input terminals of said distributor switch means.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein an additional input terminal and correlated stop are provided which are associated with a carriage step of the magnitude a/n and connected by said circuit means with the input terminal connected to the input means associated with the fraction Za/n so that any stop actuating pulse received by any one of said input means up to the fraction is simultaneously also applied to said additional input terminal.

6. A proportional spacing mechanism control arrangement for typewriters having stop means including a series of a number n mechanical stops selectively and electromechanically withdrawable by corresponding stop electromagnets from operative carriage stopping position for stopping, depending on the selected number of consecutive stops or" said series withdrawn, after a key operation the typewriter carriage in a position spaced from the preceding position by a variable multiple of a predetermined fraction a/n of the standard carriage step a in proportion to the type width of the character printed upon such key actuation, and furnishing with each individual key actuation an electrical stop actuating pulse for withdrawing a respectively selected number of said stops, comprising, in combination, a plurality of input means for receiving said stop actuating pulses and respectively associated with different multiples of said predetermined fraction a/iz of the standard carriage step; multipole distributor switch means having a stationary portion including a plurality of input terminals angularly spaced along a circular arc and a portion relatively rotatable about the center of said are and including a plurality of switch contacts engageably cooperating with said input terminals, respectively, and a plurality of slip rings each connected with a diilerent one of said switch contacts, said rotatable portion being cyclically movable in synchronism with the carriage movement through a plurality of positions respectively corresponding in sequence to sequential positions of said carriage which are spaced from each other by said fraction a/n and which said carriage may assume in making a step after a key actuation, said distributor switch means having said plurality of input terminals respectively connected with said plurality of input means in sequential order corresponding to said ditterent multiples of said fraction a/ n; a plurality of sliding contacts respectively engaging said slip rings and a plurality of output terminals respectively connected to said sliding contacts, on one hand, and to said stop electromagnets, on, the other hand, and said distributor switch means providing in any one of said sequential positions thereof an individual path from any one of said input terminals via selectable ones of said switch contacts, slip rings, sliding contacts and of said output terminals to the respectively connected stop electromagnet, the individual path to a selected output terminal and to the stop electromagnets connected therewith being determined by the position which said distributor switch means occupies at a given moment and thus by the engagement of the diiferent switch contacts with the different input terminals, respectively, so that in any position of said rotatable portion of said distributor switch means a stop actuating pulse applied to a particular one of said input terminals associated with a particular multiple of said fraction a/n is transmitted to said stop electromagnets in such a manner that irrespective of the existing position of said carriage the latter will carry out, after the printing of the character corresponding to the key actuation producing the particular stop actuating pulse, a step in the magnitude of that multiple of said fraction a/n with which the input terminal is associated to which the particular stop actuating pulse has been applied; means for moving said distributor switch means in one direction cyclically through said sequential positions in synchronism with the carriage movement; and unidirectional conductor means are provided between consecutive ones of said input terminals for applying one of said stop actuating pulses applied to one of said input terminals simultaneously also to all those input terminals only which are connected to input means associated with a smaller multiple of said fraction zz/n than that input, means from which the particular stop actuating pulse isv being applied to said one of said input terminals of said distributor switch means.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein an additional input terminal is provided which is associated with a carriage step of the magnitude 11/11 and connected by said unidirectional conductor means with the input terminal connected to the input means associated with the fraction Za/n so that any stop actuating pulse received by any one of said input means up to the fraction is simultaneously also applied to said additional input terminal.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim- 7, wherein said rotatable portion of said distributor switch means comprises a plurality of groups of said switch contacts, said groups being arranged angularly spaced from each other about the center of rotation of said rotatable portion, all switch contacts or" same significance in said groups thereof being connected to acorresponding one of said slip rings, respectively, whereby the ratio between the carriage movement and the rotary movement of said rotatable portion is reduced in accordance with the number of said groups of switch contacts.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said stop means include stop selector means respectively associated with said different mechanical stops and being actuatable by energization of said stop electromagnets, respectively, by said stop actuating pulses, and a commonstop withdrawing electromagnet connected in parallel; with said input means for receiving an energizing pulse 15 1 whenever one of said stop actuating pulses is applied to said input means, said stop withdrawing electromagnet when energized causing that all selected stops of said mechanical stops to be Withdrawn from said carriage stoppin position which is associated with a stop selector means actuated by energization of the respective one of said a said typewriter has also control means for causing said carriage to carry out a non-stop movement ditferent from the steps carried out after a character key actuation, and wherein means are provided for energizing all of said stop electromagnets and said stop withdrawing electromagnets in response to an actuation of said control means so that all of said mechanicalstops are moved to non-operative position. 1 a a 13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said typewriter has also control means for causing said car- 3,1s1,esa

sequential positions in one direction in synchronism with the carriage movement.

17. In a typewriter, in combination,a proportional spacing mechanism control arrangement comprising a plurality n of selectable stop means including electromagnetic stop withdrawing means each stop means disposed for stopping after a key operation the typewriter carriage in a position spaced from the preceding position by a variable multiple 1 of a predetermined fraction a/n of the standard carriage step a in proportion to the type width of the character printed upon such key actuation, and adapted to respond to an electrical stop withdrawing pulse by withdrawing a number i of respectively selected stop means, a plurality of input means for furnishing said stop withdrawing pulses and respectively correlated with stop means associated with sequential multiples i of said predetermined fraction 11/11 of the standard carriage step; multipole distributor switch means cyclically turnable in synchronism with the carriage movemen-t through a plurality of positions respectively corresponding in sequence to sequential positions of said carriage which are spaced from each other by said fraction a/n and which said carriage may assume in making a step after a key actuation, said distributor switch means having a plurality n of input terminals respectively connectedwith said plurality n of input means in sequential order corresponding to said sequential multiples of the fraction 11/11, and a riage to carry out a. non-stop movement different from a the steps carried 0115i after a character key actuation, and wherein means are provided for energizing all of said stop electromagnets and said stop withdrawing electromagnet in response to an actuation of said control means so that all :of said mechanical stops are moved. to non-operative position, and ,delay means for delaying the energization of said electromagnets upon actuation of said relief means.

14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein delay means are connected in circuit with said stop electromagnets for delaying their return to deenergized condition afterrhaving' been energized by a stop actuating pulse. V g a l V L 15.. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein delay means, are connected in circuit with said stop withdrawing electromagnet .for delaying the return to de-' energized condition after having been energized by an energizing pulse.

16, A proportional spacing mechanism control ar-' rangement for typewriters having a plurality n of selectpositions thereof a plurality i of paths of said stop witha drawing pulses to said stop withdrawing means, respecable and electromagnetically withdrawable stop means-for I stopping after a key operation the typewriter carriage in a position spaced from the preceding position by avariable multiple of a predetermined 'fr-action 0/11 of the standard carriage step a in proportion to the type width of the character printed-upon such key actuation, and furnishing with each individualkey actuation an electrical stop actuating pulse for withdrawing respectively selected stop means, comprising, in combination,--- a plurality of input means for receiving said stop 'actuating' tively, namelyan individual path from any one of said input terminals via a selectable one of said output termi- Vnals to the respectively connected stop widthdrawing means, the individual .path to a selected output terminal and to the stop withdrawing means connected therewith being determined by the position which said distributor switch means occupies at a given moment, so that in any position of said distributor switch means a stop withdrawing pulse applied to a particular one of said input terminals associated with a particular multiple i of said fraction a/n is transmitted to said stop withdrawing means in such a manner that irrespective of the existing position of said carriage the latter will carry out, after the printing of the character corresponding to the key actuation producing the particular's'top withdrawing pulse, a step in the magnitude of that multiple, 1' of the fraction va/ n with which the input terminal is associated to which the particular stop withdrawing pulse has been applied;

and means for turning said distributor switch means in one directionthrough said multiple i of sequential positions in synchronism with the carriage movement.

. ping after a key operation the typewriter. carriage in 7 a position spaced from the preceding position by a variable ,rnultipleof a predetermined fraction a/n of the standard pulses and respectively associated with different multiples of said predetermined fractiona/n of the standard" carriage step; multipole distributor switch'means cyclically movable in synchronism with the carriage' movement through a plurality of positions respectively corresponding 1 of in sequence to sequential positions of said carriage which are spaced from each other by said fraction d/n and which said carriage may assume in making a step after a key actuation, and transmitting in each of'i ts positions; a stop actuating pulse received from said input means to the stop means in such a manner that the carriage is stopped depending on the withdrawal of selected ones 'of said stop means after a 'particular key actuation ini a for turning said ,d Stribntor switch mean through said .18. A proportional'spacing mechanism control arrangement for typewriters having aplurality n of selectable and electromagneticallyjoperable' stopmeans for stopcarriage step ain proportion to the type width of the ating pulse tor setting respectively [selected stop means,

7 comprising, in combination, a plurality ofinput meansfor receiving said stop actuating pulses and respectively associated with different multiples oftsaid' predetermined frac- I 1 "synchronism with the 'carriagemovement' through a pluralpositionspaced from its preceding "position a distance depending upon: the Width of the particular character printed upon said particular key actuation; andmeans.

ity of positions of said carriageQwhich are spaced from each other by said fraction. a/n andwhich said carriage means in .sequential order corresponding to said different multiples of said fraction a/n and a plurality of output terminals respectively connected to said electromagnetically operable stop means, and said distributor switch means providing in any one of said sequential positions thereof an individual path from any one of said input terminals via a selectable one of said output terminals to the respectively connected stop means, the individual path to a selected output terminal and to the stop means connected therewith being determined by the position which said distributor switch means occupies at a given moment, so that in any position of said distributor switch means a stop actuating pulse applied to a particular multiple of said fraction a/n is transmitted to said stop means in such a manner that irrespective of the existing position of said carriage the latter will carry out, after the printing of the character corresponding to the key actuation producing the particular stop actuating pulse, a step in the magnitude of that multiple of said fraction a/n with which the input terminal is associated to which the particular stop actuating pulse has been applied; means for turning said distributor means through said sequential positions in synchronism with the carriage movement; circuit means connected between consecutive ones of said input terminals for applying one of said stop actuating pulses applied to one of said input terminals simultaneously also to all those input terminals only which are connected to input means associated with a smaller multiple of said fraction a/n than that input means from which the particular stop actuating pulse is being applied to said one of said input terminal of said distributor switch means.

19. A proportional spacing mechanism control arrangement for typewriters having a plurality n of selectable and electromagnetically operable stop means for stopping after a key operation the typewriter carriage in a position spaced from the preceding position by a variable multiple of a predetermined fraction a/n of the standard carriage stop a in proportion to the type width of the character printed upon such key actuation, and furnishing with each individual key actuation an electrical stop actuating pulse for setting respectively selected stop means, comprising, in combination, a plurality of input means for receiving said stop actuating pulses and respectively associated with different multiples of said predetermined fraction a/n of the standard carriage step; multiple distributor switch means cyclic-ally turnable in one direction in synchronism with the carriage movement through a plurality of positions of said carriage which are spaced from each other by said fraction a/n and which said carriage may assume in making a step after a key actuation, said distributor switch means having a plurality of input terminals respectively connected with said plurality of input means in sequential order corresponding to said different multiples of said fraction a/n and a plurality of output terminals respectively connected to said electromagnetically operable stop means, and said distributor switch means providing in any one of said sequential positions thereof an individual path from any one of said input terminals via a selectable one of said output terminals to the respectively connected stop means, the individual path to a selected output terminal and to the stop means connected therewith being determined by the position which said distributor switch means occupies at a given moment, so that in any position of said distributor switch means a stop actuating pulse applied to a particular one of said input terminals associated with a particular multiple of said fraction a/n is transmitted to said stop means in such a manner that irrespective of the existing position of said carriage the latter will carry out, after the printing of the character corresponding to the key actuation producing the particular stop actuating pulse, a step in the magnitude of that multiple of said fraction a/n with which the input terminal is associated to which the particular stop actuating pulse has been applied; means for turning said distributor switch means in one direction cyclically through said sequential positions in synchronism with the carriage movement; and unidirectional conductor means connected between consecutive ones of said input terminals for applying one of said stop actuating pulses applied to one of said input terminals simultaneously also to all those input terminals which are connected to input means associated with a smaller multiple of said fraction a/n than that input means from which the particular stop actuating pulse is being applied to said one of said input terminals of said distributor switch means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 427,680 5/90 Goodson 197-84 X 2,211,911 8/40 Reid 197--84.3 2,487,373 11/49 Reppert l97-84.3 2,678,713 5/54 Higonnet et al 197-84.1 2,790,362 4/57 Higonnet et a1 l97-84.1 X 2,938,619 5/60 Joseph 19784.3 2,972,401 2/61 Saito l9784.3

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PROPORTIONAL SPACING MECHANISM CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS HAVING A PLURALITY N OF SELECTABLE AND ELECTROMAGNETICALLY OPERABLE STOP MEANS FOR STOPPING AFTER A KEY OPERATION THE TYPEWRITER CARRIAGE IN A POSITION SPACED FROM THE PRECEDING POSITION BY A VARIABLE MULTIPLE OF A PREDETERMINED FRACTION A/N OF THE STANDARD CARRIAGE STEP A IN PROPORTION TO THE TYPE WIDTH OF THE CHARACTER PRINTED UPON SUCH KEY ACTUATION, AND FURNISHING WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL KEY ACTUATION AN ELECTRICAL STOP ACTUATING PULSE FOR SETTING RESPECTIVELY SELECTED STOP MEANS, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF INPUT MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID STOP ACTUATING PULSES AND RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT MULTIPLES OF SAID PREDETERMINED FRACTION A/N OF THE STANDARD CARRIAGE STEP; MULTIPOLE DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH MEANS CYCLICALLY TURNABLE IN ONE DIRECTION IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE CARRIAGE MOVEMENT THROUGH A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY CORRESPONDING IN SEQUENCE TO SEQUENTIAL POSITIONS OF SAID CARRIAGE WHICH ARE SPACED FROM EACH OTHER BY SAID FRACTION A/N AND WHICH SAID CARRIAGE MAY ASSUME IN MAKING A STEP AFTER A KEY ACTUATION, SAID DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF INPUT TERMINALS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID PLURALITY OF INPUT MEANS IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER CORRESPONDING TO SAID DIFFERENT MULTIPLES OF SAID FRACTION A/N AND A PLURALITY OF OUTPUT TERMINALS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ELECTROMAGNETICALLY OPERABLE STOP MEANS, AND SAID DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH MEANS PROVIDING IN ANY ONE OF SAID SEQUENTIAL POSITIONS THEREOF AN INDIVIDUAL PATH FROM ANY ONE OF SAID INPUT TERMINALS VIA A SELECTABLE ONE OF SAID OUTPUT TERMINALS TO THE RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED STOP MEANS, THE INDIVIDUAL PATH TO A SELECTED OUTPUT TERMINAL AND TO THE STOP MEANS CONNECTED THEREWITH BEING DETERMINED BY THE POSITION WHICH SAID DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH MEANS OCCUPIES AT A GIVEN MOMENT, SO THAT IN ANY POSITION OF SAID DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH MEANS A STOP ACTUATING PULSE APPLIED TO A PARTICULAR ONE OF SAID INPUT TERMINALS ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULAR MULTIPLE OF SAID FRACTION A/N IS TRANSMITTED TO SAID STOP MEANS IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IRRESPECTIVE OF THE EXISTING POSITION OF SAID CARRIAGE THE LATTER WILL CARRY OUT, AFTER THE PRINTING OF THE CHARACTER CORRESPONDING TO THE KEY ACTUATION PRODUCING THE PARTICULAR STOP ACTUATING PULSE, A STEP IN THE MAGNITUDE OF THAT MULTIPLE OF SAID FRACTION A/N WITH WHICH THE INPUT TERMINAL IS ASSOCIATED TO WHICH THE PARTICULAR STOP ACTUATING PULSE HAS BEEN APPLIED; AND MEANS FOR TURNING SAID DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION CYCLICALLY THROUGH SAID SEQUENTIAL POSITIONS IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE CARRIAGE MOVEMENT. 